Joining Mat Kearney on stage for an energetic performance! NYC – March 2015

In the two years since I saw Judah & The Lion live in NYC, they have really made a name for themselves and get more and more popular all the time. They have been dubbed “one of Nashville’s most genre-bending bands” and their style is hard to describe. They originally started as a folk rock band, but they have combined that folk tinge with other styles, creating a cool hybrid style.

It’s Throwback Thursday! Today’s #tbt song is a favorite of mine from Alexi Murdoch’s first full-length album, Time Without Consequence, released in 2006 on his own label.

I discovered Alexi Murdoch while living in London, England. What a find! I instantly fell in love with his music. This song is truly a gift from an incredibly talented musician and songwriter. I think it is difficult to find someone writing music like he does today. To me it feels like a deeply emotional conversation that I have been invited into.

I am a huge fan, but I have found him to be a bit elusive. Alexi Murdoch does not tour much, but when he does tour, his shows instantly sell out. He has quite a following and was listed as a “Top Ten Artists to Watch” by Rolling Stone after the release of his debut album in 2006. After a long wait, he released his second album, Towards the Sun, in 2011 to strong reviews. He has a personal love and connection with his artistry and music and has never signed with a major music label, even though he has had offers. He decided to stay an independent artist to maintain control of his music. In an interview with CNN Headline News in December 2003, he said:

“I really don’t want people involved in the creative process while I’m recording, who really don’t have anything to do with music, whose interest, by necessity, is just pure economics,” Murdoch says. “There is going to be something [at stake] other than just the integrity of the music.”

Alexi Murdoch is a Scottish musician who was raised in Greece until he was 10 years old at which time his family moved back to the UK and settled in Scotland. He attended Duke University in North Carolina and also lived for some time in California. His songs have received placements in dozens of films and television shows and it is likely you have heard one of his songs on one of those shows. I hope you enjoy listening to this song. I can’t recommend his music strongly enough and if you haven’t listened to him before, check out his albums, I particularly love Time Without Consequence. I love all of his music and there are so many good songs to recommend, but definitely a few to start with include: “All My Days,” “Blue Mind,” and “Song For You.”

It’s Throwback Thursday! Today we are going way back to 1971 for the #tbt song.

Today I got to spend the day with a dear friend of mine who I don’t get to see nearly often enough. It was such a sweet day and I loved the time together. We spent the morning walking the entirety of Central Park, talking and catching up on life the entire time. During the conversation we both mentioned that the one show we were dying to see on Broadway is “Beautiful – The Carole King Musical.” If you are not familiar with the show,” it is the story of Carole King’s life and it is currently one of the most popular shows on Broadway, with tickets that are nearly impossible to obtain. It just seemed to make it a fitting day to use one of her song’s as my TBT song.

Carole King is one of my all time favorite artists. She is literally one of the most talented songwriters and singers of this generation, and just an all-around classy lady. Plus, what about that piano! I would have to credit my parents with introducing me to Carole King back in my growing up days. We used to listen to her music around the house all the time.

One of my very favorite albums of all time is Tapestry. Today’s song is from that album, which was released in 1971. It was difficult for me to pick just one song! Once I got started playing the album, I kept saying “Oh, this is the one. No, I am going to do this one. Wait … maybe this one.” This went on for a solid hour as I just sat and enjoyed listening to this amazing album. I finally decided on this song because it was one of her biggest hits as a singer and it is a great example of what she is so well known for … honest, powerful, emotional music that just really connected with the listeners. It is still as powerful today as it was when it was released so many years ago.

Carole King started as a songwriter, penning songs for other artists. It was thanks to encouragement from her friend, James Taylor, that she began singing her own songs. What an incredible decision that was, as she has since become one of the most prolific singer-songwriters of all time. The album, Tapestry, has been listed by Rolling Stone Magazine as #36 in the 500 Greatest Albums of All Time. This is really no surprise … is there anyone out there who can’t sing along with at least one of the songs on this album? My son was amazed that I could sing every single word to this album while we were listening to it tonight. It is a Masterpiece!